Abdominal supporter and truss.



No. 795,625. PATBNTED JULY 25. 1905.

' B. F. LACY.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER AND TRUSS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1305.

Application filed November 22, 1904. Serial No. 233,806.

To 0 7 7 Ml-horn, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. LACY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pekin, in the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Abdominal Supporters and Trusses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved abdominal supporter and truss comprising simple and practical means for effectively retaining a hernia, While at the same time supporting the abdominal wall in a manner to promote a natural healing of the broken ligaments.

A special-object of the invention is to provide certain practical improvements in the type of supporter and truss disclosed in my former patent, N 0. 772,105, dated October 11, 1904:, and also in a companion application filed of even date herewith. In this connection the invention provides a novel manner of mounting truss-pads upon a spring-wire su pporter-frame.

With these and many other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an abdominal supporter and truss embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a preferable arrangement of the belt and strap associated with the spring-wire frame.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The invention includes in its general organization a spring-wire supporter-frame, designated by the numeral 1 and made from a continuous length of wire of suitable strength, gage, and resilience. present invention the wire 1 is preferably bent into an approximate W shape, so as to be provided with the opposite oblique side legs 2, the central upstanding loop 3 and oppositely-disposed side loops 4:, arranged at opposite bottom corners of the frame. At the upper ends of the oblique side legs 2 the spring-wire frame is formed with the spring- For the purposes of the coils 5, from which the end portions of the wire are projected downwardly and outwardly to formthe pendent spring lever-arms 6. The lower ends of these spring lever-arms are formed with open belt-hooks 7, designed to receive the front end portions of the bodybclt 8, which is adjusted about the body to any desired degree of tightness, according to the pressure which it is necessary to place upon thev frame. Also, if found desirable, the oppositely-located spring coils or eyes 5 of the supporter-frame may be connected by the adjustable supporting-belt 9, which subserves the function of the corresponding belt disclosed in my former patent and companion application aforesaid. To provide for thoroughly reinforcing the spring supporterframe, there may be associated with the upstanding central loop 3 a metallic plate 10, constituting a reinforcing-web which extends across the top portion of the loop 3 and is permanently secured to the wire at this point.

One of the distinctive features of the present invention resides in the novel manner of mounting the pads upon the opposite side portions of the spring supporter-frame and in a construction of pad specially designed for this type of supporter-frame. Referring particularlyto the mounting of the pads, it will be observed that the same are designed to be mounted upon the opposite side loops of the W-shaped frame and, being independently arranged, provision is necessarily made for adapting the device to either a single or double hernia. The pads are designated in their entirety by the numeral 11, and the same include in their general construction a metallic base-plate 12, with which is associated the pad-carriers 13 and 14. A pair of the padcarriers 13 and-14 are associated with each of the oppositely-located pads 11 and are respectively mounted upon the bottom sections and side legs of the wire frame. Hence with each pad the carrier 13 connects with what may be properly termed the bottom section of the wire frame, while the upper carrier 14 is mounted upon the adjoining side leg 2. These carriers 13 and 14 preferably consist of a plate of sheet metal doubled upon itself and having its bight folded about the frame-wire. The

lower pad -carrier 13 receives, through the body portion thereof, a pivot-screw 15, which passes through the back of the pad and engages in an interior nut 16, mounted within the pad-body, while the upper pad-carrier 14 tightening of the screws serves to hold it firmly in place.

The preferable construction of pad which is employed in carrying out the present invention (shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings) essentially comprises the metallic baseplate 12, consisting of a sheet of aluminium secured to a sole-leather back piece 19 by means of the rivets 20 or equi-fastenings. A collar leather facing 21 is secured at its edges to the mariginal edges of the back piece 19 'through the medium of stitching 22, and the interior space between said back piece and facing is filled with a padding 23, of wool or equivalent material. over a last formed to the exact configuration desired, and the pad constructed as described The facing 21 is made provides for elfectually retaining a hernia with the greatest degree of comfort to the patient.

Various changes in the form, proportion,

' and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the class described, an .upright arched springwire supporter-frame having lever-arms at its ends for the attachment of the body-belt, and oppositely-arranged pads, each pad having a pivotal sup-- port upon the bottom member of the frame,

and a laterally-adjustable connection with the adjacent side leg of the frame.

2. In a device of the class described, an upright spring-wire supporter-frame, pads arranged at opposite sides of the frame, and a pair of upper and lower pad-carriers for each pad, respectively having a pivotal and adjustable connection therewith.

3. In a device of the class described, an upright arched supporter-frame, pads arranged at opposite sides of the frame, a pair of padcarriers for each pad, respectively mounted upon a bottom section and side leg of the frame, one of the pad-carriers having a pivotal connection with the'pad and the other an adjustable connection therewith.

4:. In a device of the class described, an upright arched supporter-frame, pads arranged at opposite sides of the frame, and a pair of upper and lower pad-carriers for each pad mounted respectively upon a bottom section and side leg of the frame, the upper of said pad-carriers projecting inwardly and having a longitudinally-disposed slot, a pivot-screw connecting the lower pad-carrierwith its pad, and a binding-screw connecting the slotted carrier with the pad.

5. In adevice of the class described, an upright supporter-frame, oppositely-arranged pads carrying fixed nuts, a pair of upper and lower pad-carriers for each pad mounted respectively upon a'bottomsection and side leg of the frame, both of said carriers consisting of a metallic plate doubled upon itself about the frame-wire, and the upper of the carriers having a longitudinally-disposed slot, and screws mounted in the carriers and engaging the nuts of the pads.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. LACY.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK P. MAUs, FRED SCHAEFER. 

